Future Stories

This year’s Future Stories will take shape in the form of Art Mobs. Art Mobs work in a similar way to information bulletins, applying cultural and artistic techniques to inspire reflection on themes of sustainability and the future. Future Stories Art Mobs include, for example, performances, immersive experiences and participatory workshops that spread throughout Espoo’s urban space. All events will be free of charge and open to all.

The topics discussed in Future Stories Art Mobs are linked to the themes of ecological or social sustainability, the dialogue between the urban environment and nature, the relationship between humans and the environment, and other themes that shape our future. Art Mobs will inspire reflection while being easily accessible cultural experiences. They bring colour to urban spaces and add a sense of surprise to the everyday. The Art Mobs will be executed by professionals and experts in the creative sector.

Artists and artistic working groups were invited to submit their proposals for an Art Mob through an open call in April 2025. A professional panel assembled by Espoo Cultural Services selected the works for implementation. Ten artists and artistic teams have been selected to carry out the Future Stories Art Mobs, and they will take place across Espoo through the end of November. 

Future Stories took place for the first time in summer 2023 as an environmental artwork located in Espoonlahti. Love Letters to Nature, a collection of five environmental art pieces by the art collective SISU, was inspired by the love letters written by the city’s residents to nature. In 2024, a mural was painted on the Kivenlahti underpass. The piece was created by the art collective Mimmit peinttaa in collaboration with local residents. The purpose of the mural was to make the area more inviting and to prevent intentional vandalism of the tunnel.